Rumor: Toyota Land Cruiser diesel may debut in Canada for MY2009
According to an unofficial source who may have previewed some upcoming promotional materials, it looks like the diesel-powered version of Toyota's off-road brute may be landing in North America this fall. The recently redesigned Toyota Land Cruiser offers a new 4.5L diesel V8 in overseas markets, but North America has had to be satisfied with the gasoline-fueled variant. Unfortunately for Americans, it appears that only our northern neighbors will access to the compression ignition Land Cruiser for now since they are not subject to Tier 2 Bin 5 standards. However, a cleaner version of this engine should arrive stateside for use in the Sequioa and Tundra about a year from now. According to our source the new V8 is rated at 280hp and 520lb-ft of torque. The fuel mileage of the diesel Land Cruiser is expected to be about 22.4mpg, which makes it comparable to the Chevy Tahoe hybrid. The low volume is Land Cruiser is quite a bit pricier though starting at about $77,290 Canadian (roughly $78,000 U.S.).
[Source: Jim]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Unlucky_O 2:05PM (5/20/2008)
Diesel is not the answer.
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EVan 4:09PM (5/20/2008)
Ditto.
Especially a vehicle which burns this much diesel.
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Kevin Nugent 10:27PM (5/20/2008)
That is very expensive
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psarhjinian 10:05AM (5/21/2008)
Interesting, considering that the Land Cruiser isn't sold in Canada at all, except as the (much, much more expensive) LX.
I doubt this will happen. Toyota's BoF SUVs don't sell at all well in Canada (at least not since the 4Runner went from being a reliable alternative to tough-but-flakey European and American trucks to an urban mom-mobile) and adding another would be a very stupid move for a company not known for stupid moves.
A diesel Tundra or Tacoma, sure. A Sequoia or 4Runner, maybe. This? No way.
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Lindy Burchett 1:21PM (10/19/2008)
It sounds as though you don't appreciate the irony in all of the happenings. I am a contractor in Iraq, and am charged with maintaining a small fleet of armored Land Cruisers. I am facinated by the engineering that is embedded in these cars, Compared to comparable size armored vehicles, the Land Cruiser is far and away the best vehicle. There have been instances(iots of them, in fact), that had my guys had anything other than these cars, (Suburbans, for example), they would be dead! They are tough beyond what one would even dream of, and are operating in very inhospitable terrain and overall environment,at 3 times (or more) of their OEM curb weight. They do all of this on STOCK OEM suspension and drive train. The only modifications to the OEM chassis are aftermarket rear springs, tortion bars, and shocks. I am a life long Ford man(Never have I owned or driven a piece of GM JUNK that I could drive as many hours as I worked on it) ,but if I were to buy a new vehicle today, it would damn sure have Toyota written on it!!!!
Eric 9:58PM (6/25/2008)
psarhjinian,
Apparently you have never been off-road in one of these things before. A friend of mine has a 2004 and he crawls up hills I would only attempt on my ATV. I can think of no better engine than a twin turbo diesel. With 520 ft-lbs of torque, this thing is going to climb like a snow leopard.
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Eddie Brannon 2:05PM (7/02/2008)
The oil companies whom own large shares of US Auto Stocks are doing their best to keep MPG's low and foreign diesels out of the US. This Diesel landcruiser would blow all US competition out of the water. I saw a Jetta diesel in a local lot for around 24k advertised to get upt to 47 mpg on HWY. Why weren't these cars imported years ago? Perhaps we should ask congress and big oil. Now one alternative fuel source, sugar, is being wiped out by the everglades restoration act. Who's behind that deal? Convenient isn't it? Control the masses with fuel and food. At any rate the landcruiser is an awesome vehicle, grossly over priced, yet head and shoulders above any SUV in its class!
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Lindy Burchett 9:49AM (10/20/2008)
Eddie, Do you have a Pay- Pal account?? If you do, I would like to send you some money, just to see if you could even BUY a freaking CLUE!! They (AKA BIG oil and Government) do not try try control food and fuel, it is absolutely amazing how many Americans do not appreciate what they have,and are too stinking lazy to vote (And actually know what they are voting for), work, or even question what the talking heads on the 6PM news, or some preacher tells them. You need to read some real world history and try to see what is really happening.